Police arrest violent offender in stolen vehicle

Prince George

2023-10-11 08:52 PDT

File # 2023-35302

Shortly before 4:00 a.m. on Monday, October 9, 2023, Prince George RCMP was notified of a break-and-enter in progress at a business on the 9200-block of Sintich Road. The suspect was seen on video surveillance inside of a locked compound at that location.

When police officers arrived, the suspect fled in what was later determined to be a vehicle stolen out of Prince George near the end of September. The suspect began to drive in a manner dangerous to the public and police, veering repeatedly into oncoming traffic and driving along railway tracks and the pedestrian footbridge underneath the Simon Fraser Bridge.

After hitting multiple spike belts deployed by police officers, the suspect abandoned the stolen vehicle near the Red Rock Scales and fled on foot, subsequently stealing a quad from a bystander in the area. The suspect crashed the quad shortly afterward and was arrested by police officers. Investigators identified the suspect as John Robert Barton Craig. He was transported to the Prince George RCMP detachment and held for court.

The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved the following charges in this matter:

• Obstruct a police officer
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Flight was pursued by a police officer
• Theft under $5000
• Assaulting a police officer
• Possession of stolen property over $5000
• Break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence
• Operate a conveyance while prohibited
• Driving while prohibited

This was a very dynamic event, which was successfully concluded through the hard work of many police officers working together. Less than an hour after receiving the initial report, a violent offender was arrested despite his many attempts to evade police, states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RMCP.

This file is now before the courts. Mr. Craig will remain in custody until his next court appearance.

Released by

Cpl. Jennifer Cooper

Email: pg_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: princegeorge.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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